Content downloading method and apparatus used by mobile device

ABSTRACT

A content downloading method and apparatus of a mobile device employing an Internet protocol television (IPTV) are provided. The content downloading method and apparatus allow an IPTV to provide a mobile device with content information received from a service provider, allow a user to input content desired to be downloaded to the mobile device, and allow a user to download the content to the mobile device from the service provider via the IPTV, thereby quickly and easily downloading desired content to the mobile device without a complicated process of browsing and copying the content.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/018,526 filed Jan. 23, 2008, which claims priority from KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2007-0035173, filed on Apr. 10, 2007 in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate tocontent downloading, and more particularly, to content downloading by amobile device using an Internet protocol television (IPTV).

2. Description of the Related Art

Despite the increase in the use of mobile devices such as MP3 players,personal multimedia players (PMPs), cellular phones or the like, userscan only download desired media to mobile devices having a mediaplayback function by using a complicated process of searching for thedesired media over the Internet during their spare time at home, thendownloading the desired media to PCs, and then copying the desired mediato the mobile devices connected to the PCs. Such a complicated processhas caused a huge inconvenience to users of mobile devices.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for quickly andeasily downloading desired content to a mobile device.

The present invention also provides a recording medium storing a programfor executing the method.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided acontent providing method comprising: transmitting content informationreceived from a service provider providing a broadcast service over theInternet to a mobile device; if a content download request is receivedfrom the mobile device, requesting the service provider for the content;and receiving the content from the service provider and transmitting thecontent to the mobile device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer programfor executing the content providing method.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda content providing apparatus of an IPTV comprising: a contentinformation management unit transmitting content information receivedfrom a service provider providing a broadcast service over the Internetto a mobile device; a content request unit, if a content downloadrequest is received from the mobile device, requesting the serviceprovider for the content; and a content transmission unit receiving thecontent from the service provider and transmitting the content to themobile device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda content downloading method used in a mobile device comprising: if themobile device receives content information from an Internet protocoltelevision (IPTV), displaying the content information; receiving atleast one content list from among content lists included in the contentinformation from the user; and requesting the IPTV to download contentsincluded in the content list.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer programfor executing the content downloading method.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda content downloading apparatus used in a mobile device comprising: adisplay unit, wherein if the mobile device receives content informationfrom an IPTV, then the display unit displays the content information; akey input unit receiving at least one content list from among contentlists included in the content information from the user; and a downloadrequest unit requesting the IPTV to download contents included in thecontent list.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda content downloading method of a mobile device using an IPTVcomprising: if content information received from a service provider isupdated, the IPTV transmitting the content information to a mobiledevice; if the mobile device receives the content information from theIPTV, displaying the content information to a user; the mobile devicereceiving at least one content list from among content lists included inthe content information from the user; the mobile device requesting theIPTV to download contents included in the content list; if the IPTVreceives a request to download the contents, requesting the serviceprovider to transmit the contents; and the IPTV receiving the contentsfrom the service provider and transmitting the contents to the mobiledevice.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda content downloading system of a mobile device using an IPTVcomprising: an IPTV, wherein if content information received from aservice provider is updated, then the content information is transmittedto a mobile device, if the IPTV receives a content download request fromthe mobile device, a service provider is requested to transmit thecontent requested to be downloaded, the content from the serviceprovider is received, and the content is transmitted to the mobiledevice; and the mobile device, if the mobile device receives updatedcontent information from the IPTV, then displays the content informationto a user, receives at least one content list from among content listsincluded in the content information from the user, and requests the IPTVto download contents included in the content list.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aspects of the present invention will become more apparent bydescribing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to theattached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a content providing apparatus of an IPTVaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a content information management unitaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a content downloading apparatus used by amobile device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a content downloading system used by a mobile deviceusing an IPTV according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a content providing method used in anIPTV according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a content providing method used in anIPTV according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a content downloading method used ina mobile device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a content downloading method using anIPTV employed in a mobile device according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.

An IPTV is a system where a digital television service is deliveredusing the Internet Protocol (IP) over a network infrastructure. The IPTVenables a viewer to watch a desired broadcast program at a desired time,purchase goods, browse information, check e-mail and the like. The IPTVprovides a bi-directional service, so that the viewer can input datainto the IPTV or make a variety of requests to the IPTV, and thus theIPTV can process the viewer's requests instantly so as to respond to therequests. In particular, the IPTV provides an electronic program guide(EPG), which is an interactive type TV version of a broadcast televisionprogram timetable that appears in a newspaper. The EPG provides theviewer with the broadcast television program timetable and detailedinformation on programs and content. The EPG also allows the viewer towatch a scheduled television program by changing channels at theschedule time. Therefore, exemplary embodiments of the present inventionprovide a method and apparatus for easily downloading desired content toa mobile device using the IPTV that provides a TV broadcast program suchas an EPG service, a content information service, a programpre-scheduling service, or the like.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a content providing apparatus of an IPTV100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Thecontent providing apparatus is included in the IPTV 100. Referring toFIG. 1, the content providing apparatus includes a content informationmanagement unit 102, a content request unit 104, a content transmissionunit 106, and a content storage unit 108, and is connected to a serviceprovider (SP) 110 and a mobile device 120.

The content information management unit 102 receives content informationfrom the SP 110 providing a broadcast service over the Internet on aregular basis, and transmits the content information to the mobiledevice 120. In particular, the content information management unit 102determines whether the content information received from the SP 110 hasbeen updated, and, if the content information is determined to have beenupdated, then transmits the content information to the mobile device120. In this regard, the content information management unit 102receives the content information from the SP 110 on a regular basis,compares the content information with previously received contentinformation, and determines whether both pieces of content informationare identical to each other in order to determine whether the contentinformation has been updated. The content information may include, butis not limited to, video on demand (VoD) content information, scheduledbroadcast information, or the like. The VoD content information includesa list of content. The scheduled broadcast information includes, forinstance, a timetable and list of scheduled broadcast programs.

If the content request unit 104 receives a content download request fromthe mobile device 120, then the content request unit 104 transmits acontent download request command and a list of content whose downloadingis requested to the SP 110 so as to request the content.

The content transmission unit 106 receives the content requested by thecontent request unit 104 from the SP 110 and transmits the content tothe mobile device 120 or stores the content in the content storage unit108. For example, a personal video recorder (PVR), in which a hard discis embedded, may be used as the content storage unit 108.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a content information management unit 200according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 2, the content information management unit 200 includes acontent information receiving unit 202, an update determination unit204, and a content information transmission unit 206.

The content information receiving unit 202 receives content informationfrom an SP 210 on a regular basis, and transmits the content informationto the update determination unit 204.

The update determination unit 204 compares the content information witha previously received content list and determines whether the contentinformation is identical to content information included in thepreviously received content list in order to determine whether thecontent information provided by the SP 210 has been updated.

The content information transmission unit 206 transmits the contentinformation received in the content information receiving unit 202 tothe mobile device 220, if the update determination unit 204 determinesthat the content information provided by the SP 210 has been updated.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a content downloading apparatus used by amobile device 300 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The content downloading apparatus is included in the mobiledevice 300. Referring to FIG. 3, the content downloading apparatusincludes a receiving unit 302, a display unit 304, a key input unit 306,a list storage unit 308, a download request unit 310, and a contentstorage unit 312.

The receiving unit 302 receives content information from an IPTV 320 andprovides the content information with the display unit 304. In addition,the receiving unit 302 downloads content from the IPTV 320 and providesthe content to the content storage unit 312 or to the display unit 304.The content is requested by a user using the mobile device 300, providedby an SP 330, and received in the mobile device 300 via the IPTV 320.The content information may include, but is not limited to, VoD contentinformation, scheduled broadcast information, or the like. The VoDcontent information includes at least a list of content. The scheduledbroadcast information includes, for instance, a timetable and a list ofscheduled broadcast programs.

The display unit 304 may display the content information received in thereceiving unit 302 to a user. In addition, the display unit 304 displaysthe content downloaded by the receiving unit 302 or stored in thecontent storage unit 312 to the user.

The key input unit 306 receives from the user at least one content listfrom among content lists included in the content information displayedon the display unit 304, and provides the content list with the liststorage unit 308.

The list storage unit 308 stores the content list provided by the keyinput unit 306.

The download request unit 310 requests the IPTV 320 to download contentaccording to the content list stored in the list storage unit 306. Thedownload request unit 310 provides the IPTV 320 with a download requestcommand and the content list.

The content storage unit 312 stores the content downloaded by thereceiving unit 302. The display unit 304 displays the content to theuser.

FIG. 4 illustrates a content downloading system used by a mobile device420 using an IPTV 410 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the content downloading systemof the present exemplary embodiment includes an SP 400, the IPTV 410,and the mobile device 420. The IPTV 410 and the mobile device 420 can beconnected to each other, for instance, via a given standard plug andplay (PnP) interface such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB), Ethernet, orthe like.

The IPTV 410 receives content information from the SP 400 on a regularbasis, determines whether updated content information is included in thereceived content information, and if the received content information isdetermined to have the updated content information, then transmits theupdated content information to the mobile device 420.

The mobile device 420 receives the content information from the IPTV 410and displays the content information to a user. The mobile device 420receives at least one content list among content lists included in thedisplayed content information from the user, and stores the contentlist. The mobile device 420 requests the IPTV 410 to download contentincluded in the content list.

The IPTV 410 requests the SP 400 to download the content in response tothe request from the mobile device 420. The IPTV 410 receives thecontent from the SP 400 and transmits the content to the mobile device420. In this regard, the IPTV 410 can store the content received fromthe SP 400 and, if the IPTV 410 is connected to the mobile device 420,then transmits the content to the mobile device 420.

The mobile device 420 downloads the content through the IPTV 410 anddisplays the download content to the user.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a content providing method used in anIPTV according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 5, the content providing method used in the IPTV ofthe present exemplary embodiment comprises time-serially processedoperations of the content providing apparatus of the IPTV 100illustrated in FIG. 1. Therefore, the above description of the contentproviding apparatus of the IPTV 100 is applied to the content providingmethod used in the IPTV of the present exemplary embodiment.

The content providing apparatus receives content information from the SP110 providing a broadcast service over the Internet on a regular basis,and transmits the content information to the mobile device 120(Operation 500). In particular, the content providing apparatusdetermines whether the content information received from the SP 110 hasbeen updated, and, if the content providing apparatus determines thatthe content information has been updated, then transmits the contentinformation to the mobile device 120. In this regard, the contentproviding apparatus receives the content information from the SP 110 ona regular basis, compares the content information with previouslyreceived content information, and determines whether both pieces ofcontent information are identical to each other in order to determinewhether the content information has been updated. The contentinformation may include, but is not limited to, VoD content information,scheduled broadcast information, or the like. The VoD contentinformation includes a content list. The scheduled broadcast informationincludes, for instance, a timetable and a list of scheduled broadcastprograms.

If the content providing apparatus receives a content download requestfrom the mobile device 120, then the content providing apparatustransmits a content download request command and a list of content whosedownloading is requested to the SP 110 so as to request the content(Operation 510).

If the content providing apparatus receives the content download requestfrom the mobile device 120, then the content providing apparatusrequests the SP 110 for the content at the time when the SP 110 providesthe content, which is, in particular, when the content providingapparatus requests broadcast content to be broadcast to the SP 110.

The content providing apparatus receives the content from the SP 110 andtransmits the content to the mobile device 120 (Operation 520). Thecontent providing apparatus stores the content, and, if the contentproviding apparatus is connected to the mobile device 120, transmits thecontent to the mobile device 120. A PVR, in which a hard disc isembedded, for example, may be used to store the content.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a content providing method used in anIPTV according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 6, the content providing method used in the IPTV ofthe present exemplary embodiment comprises time-serially processedoperations of the content providing apparatus of the IPTV 200illustrated in FIG. 2.

The content providing apparatus receives content information from an SP210 on a regular basis (Operation 600).

The content providing apparatus compares the content information withpreviously received content information and determines whether bothpieces of content information are identical to each other in order todetermine whether the content information has been updated (Operation610).

The content providing apparatus then transmits the updated contentinformation to the mobile device 220, if the content providing apparatusdetermines that the content information has been updated (Operation620).

If the content providing apparatus receives a content download requestfrom the mobile device 220, then the content providing apparatustransmits a content download request command and content list to the SP210 to request content (Operation 630). For example, the content isrequested by a user using the mobile device 220.

The content providing apparatus receives the content from the SP 210 andtransmits the content to the mobile device 220 (Operation 640).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a content downloading method used ina mobile device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Referring to FIG. 7, the content downloading method used inthe mobile device of the present exemplary embodiment comprisestime-serially processed operations of the content downloading apparatusof the mobile device 300 illustrated in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 7, thecontent downloading apparatus receives updated content information fromthe IPTV 320 and displays the content information to a user (Operation700).

The content downloading apparatus receives, from the user, at least onecontent list from among content lists included in the contentinformation, and stores the content list (Operation 710).

If the content downloading apparatus is connected to the IPTV 320, thenthe content downloading apparatus requests the IPTV 320 to downloadcontent included in the content list (Operation 720). In this case, thecontent downloading apparatus provides the IPTV 320 with the contentlist.

The content downloading apparatus downloads the content from the SP 330through the IPTV 320 (Operation 730).

The content downloading apparatus then displays the content to the user(Operation 740).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a content downloading methodemploying an IPTV used in a mobile device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, the contentdownloading method using the IPTV used in the mobile device of thepresent exemplary embodiment comprises time-serially processedoperations of the content downloading apparatus of the mobile device 420using the IPTV 410 illustrated in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 8, the IPTV410 receives content information from the SP 400 on a regular basis, anddetermines whether updated content information is included in thecontent information (Operation 800).

When the IPTV 410 is connected to the mobile device 420, the IPTV 410detects the connection, and if the content information is determined tohave been updated, then transmits the updated content information to themobile device 420 (Operation 810). The mobile device 420 can beconnected to the IPTV 410 via a given standard PnP interface, forexample, such as a USB, Ethernet, or the like.

The mobile device 420 receives the content information from the IPTV 410and displays the content information to a user (Operation 820).

The mobile device 420 receives at least one content list among contentlists included in the displayed content information from the user, andstores the content list (Operation 830).

When the mobile device 420 is connected to the IPTV 410, the mobiledevice 420 requests the IPTV 410 to download content included in thecontent list (Operation 840).

The IPTV 410 requests the SP 400 to download the content in response tothe request from the mobile device 420 (Operation 850).

The IPTV 410 receives the content from the SP 400 and downloads thecontent to the mobile device 420 (Operation 860). In this regard, theIPTV 410 can store the content received from the SP 400 and, if the IPTV410 is connected to the mobile device 420, then transmit the content tothe mobile device 420. A PVR, in which a hard disc is embedded, may beused to store the content, for example.

The mobile device 420 displays the downloaded content to the user(Operation 870).

The present invention can also be embodied as computer readable code ona computer readable recording medium. A computer readable recordingmedium is any data storage device that can store data that can bethereafter read by a computer system. Examples of such a computerreadable recording medium may include, but are not limited to, read-onlymemory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes,floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The computer readablerecording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computersystems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in adistributed fashion.

As described above, the content downloading method and apparatus usingan IPTV, according to the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, allow an IPTV to provide a mobile device with contentinformation received from an SP, allow a user to input content desiredto be downloaded to the mobile device, and allows a user to download thecontent to the mobile device from the SP via the IPTV, thereby quicklyand easily downloading desired content to the mobile device without acomplicated process of browsing and copying the content during a sparetime.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims. The exemplary embodimentsshould be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by thedetailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, andall differences within the scope will be construed as being included inthe present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A content providing method comprising: receivingcontent information from a service provider which provides a broadcastservice using an Internet Protocol; transmitting the received contentinformation to a mobile device; and if a content download request isreceived from the mobile device, requesting the service provider for thecontent; receiving the content from the service provider; andtransmitting the received content to the mobile device.
 2. The contentproviding method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the receivedcontent information comprises: comparing the received contentinformation with previously stored content information to determinewhether the received content information has been updated; and if it isdetermined that the received content information has been updated,transmitting the received content information to the mobile device. 3.The content providing method of claim 1, further comprising: storing thereceived content; and wherein the stored content is transmitted to themobile device.
 4. The content providing method of claim 1, wherein therequesting the service provider for the content comprises: if thecontent download request is received from the mobile device, standing byuntil the service provider provides the content.
 5. A contentdownloading method used in a mobile device, the method comprising:receiving the mobile device content information from an Internetprotocol television (IPTV); displaying the received content information;receiving at least one content list, from among content lists includedin the content information; and requesting the IPTV to download contentincluded in the received content list.
 6. The content downloading methodof claim 5, further comprising: storing the content list; and requestingthe IPTV to download content included in the content list to the mobiledevice.
 7. A content providing apparatus of an IPTV, the apparatuscomprising: a content information management unit which transmitscontent information, that is received from a service provider providinga broadcast service using an Internet protocol, to a mobile device; acontent request unit which, if a content download request is receivedfrom the mobile device, requests the service provider for the content;and a content transmission unit which receives the content from theservice provider and transmits the content to the mobile device.
 8. Thecontent providing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the content informationmanagement unit comprises: an update determination unit which comparesthe received content information with previously stored contentinformation to determine whether the received content information hasbeen updated; and wherein the content information management unittransmits the received content information to the mobile deviceaccording to a result of the determination of the update determinationunit.
 9. The content providing apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:a content storage unit which stores the content, wherein the contentmanagement unit transmits the stored content to the mobile device.
 10. Acontent downloading apparatus in a mobile device, the apparatuscomprising: a display unit which, if the mobile device receives contentinformation from an Internet protocol television (IPTV), displays thereceived content information; a key input unit which receives at leastone input designating a content list from among content lists includedin the received content information; and a download request unit whichrequests the IPTV to download content included in the content list. 11.The content downloading apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: alist storage unit which stores the content list, wherein the downloadrequest unit requests the IPTV to download content included in thestored content list.
 12. A content downloading method of a mobiledevice, the method comprising: if content information received from aservice provider is updated, transmitting the content information froman Internet protocol television (IPTV) to the mobile device; if themobile device receives the content information from the IPTV, displayingthe received content information; receiving at the mobile device atleast one content list, from among content lists included in thereceived content information, at a request from a user; requesting atthe mobile device the IPTV to download content included in the receivedcontent list; if the IPTV receives a request to download the content,requesting the service provider to transmit the content; and receivingat the IPTV the content from the service provider and transmitting thecontent from the IPTV to the mobile device.
 13. A content downloadingsystem comprising: an Internet protocol television (IPTV); and a mobiledevice, wherein if content information received from a service provideris updated, the received content information is transmitted to a mobiledevice, wherein if the IPTV receives a content download request from themobile device, then a service provider is requested to transmit thecontent, the content is received from the service provider, and thecontent is transmitted to the mobile device; and wherein, if the mobiledevice receives updated content information from the IPTV, the mobiledevice displays the content information, receives at least one contentlist, from among content lists included in the content information, at arequest from a user, and requests the IPTV to download content includedin the content list.
 14. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumstoring a computer program for executing the method of claim 1.